Farmers in Kisumu Boost Food Production To Recover From Effects of COVID-1

The County Government of Kisumu has stepped up measures to enhance food production at household level to help families recover from the harsh effects of COVID-19 pandemic. 

Through support from the County COVID-19 emergency committee, the department of agriculture has embarked on distribution of free seeds, seedlings and irrigation equipment to households in the area to boost food production. 

Speaking at Grace Onyango Social Center, during his 3rd State of the County Address, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said Sh13 million has been set aside for the program which targets 10, 000 small holder farmers in the area. 

The farmers, he said, will receive rice seeds, fruit trees seedlings, vegetable seeds, cereal seeds (maize, beans, green gram, and cowpeas) and one-day old chicken. 

He said the program targets to revive household economies through small farms in the backyard growing fast maturing resilient crops to ensure enough supply for local consumption. 

Nyongó said COVID-19 has adversely affected seamless movement of commodities in the area leading to an increase in prices at a time when many households have lost their jobs. 

Other initiatives rolled out by the department of agriculture to boost food Security, he said, include distribution of cassava cuttings, local traditional vegetable seedlings as well as provision of agrochemicals for control of Fall army worms and other pests. 

He disclosed that the beneficiaries across the county have also received 350 bags of CAN fertilizer and 325 bags of Urea fertilizer for top dressing maize and rice crops. The county government has also distributed hybrid seeds to 1, 200 farmers to boost production. 

“The farmers whose crop was washed away by floods early in the year have also benefited from 20.8 metric tonnes of certified seeds valued at Sh. 4.8 million courtesy of the national government,” he added. 

The Governor noted that the county government has also completed construction of wells and canals in Nyamthoe and Mboha valleys which will enhance production of horticultural products for local consumption.